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On the 98th anniversary of the founding of its armed forces, China has released footage of a high-profile test launch of a nuclear-capable missile that took place last year. As the military celebrated its anniversary on Friday, Chinese state media also disclosed details about a submarine equipped with nuclear missiles and unveiled Beijing’s fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment via email.
### Why It Matters
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)—carrying a dummy warhead—into international waters in the Pacific on September 25, 2024. The long-range missile was identified by experts as a DF-31AG. This test is Beijing’s first since the 1980s and comes as the Chinese military undergoes accelerated nuclear development following an order from its leader, Xi Jinping. China’s nuclear arsenal is estimated to be the third largest in the world, with at least 600 warheads.
The launch raised concerns among countries in the South Pacific, as the dummy warhead splashed down within a region’s nuclear-free zone, according to a Newsweek map.
### What To Know
The Chinese military’s media wing aired footage of the ICBM test on Thursday, showing the missile ascending after its launch. A photograph of the launch was officially released the day after the event. China Central Television also published a report on the footage, citing an officer from the Rocket Force who said the test was tied to the Rocket Force’s honor and the country’s dignity and confidence.
The officer further stated that he and his fellow Rocket Force members will “always be ready” to accomplish missions as ordered. “I have been waiting for this moment for more than 20 years,” he said, referring to the ICBM test, which Beijing described as a success.
In its most recent report on Chinese nuclear weapons, the Federation of American Scientists estimated that China possesses 462 land-based missile launchers capable of targeting the continental U.S., including those from the DF-5, DF-31 and DF-41 missile families. The ICBM test launch footage demonstrated China’s nuclear second-strike capabilities and its deterrence power.
### What People Are Saying
China’s Defense Ministry announced in September 2024: “This [ICBM] test launch is a routine arrangement in our annual training plan. It is in line with international law and international practice and is not directed against any country or target.”
China’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., previously told Newsweek: “China is the only nuclear-weapon state to adopt a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. China will continue to be firmly committed to safeguarding its legitimate security interests and upholding world peace and stability.”
### What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether China will conduct another ICBM test soon, as the Pentagon has assessed that the East Asian power will possess over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
